Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Norway (Ratification: 1984)

Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that a new inclusive working life (IW) agreement 2014–18 was signed in March 2014 with the social partners. The Committee notes that the Jobs Strategy for People with Disabilities was strengthened with further measures and its main target group is persons with disabilities under the age of 30. The Government indicates that work on the Jobs Strategy has been widely influenced by discussions with the National Disability Council of Norway and discussions between ministries. Responsibility for the implementation of the Jobs Strategy lies jointly with the social partners, organizations representing persons with disabilities, employers, the Labour and Welfare Service and other public service providers and with the jobseekers themselves. The Committee notes that the employment rate for persons with disabilities was 42.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2013, which is lower than in previous years (45.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2008). The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners in order to ensure that vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of persons with disabilities. Please also describe the impact of the measures taken to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the open labour market.